Switch



Sept 7, 1937. J. c. MERRYMAN 2,092,678

, swITcH Filed Maron 2o, 193e Jz/z CMI?" man.

NVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS 'Patented Vsepa 7,1931

' UNITED STATES PATENT oFF'lcE 'IClaimL My invention relates totlme controlled circuits, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved switch.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an alarm showing my switch attached thereto:

Pig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along of FIB. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional oi Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional of Pig. 3:

Fig. 6 is a sectional view oi' Fig. 5; and

Fig. 'I is a perspective view of the switch in a disassembled condition with one of the parts shown in section for the sake of clearness.

2 In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a conventional alarm clock Il including the usual alarm winding shaft I2 having a threaded end I4 for the reception of a winding nut. I remove the nut and connect the switch mechanism to the shaft. The switch comprises a tubular body I6 of insulating material within which I rotatably position a switch head I3 having one end projecting beyond the open end of the body II. A shaft 20 has one end imbedded in the material of the switch head Il as at 22. 'I'hisend of the shaft 20 may be of irregular construction and is iixedly secured in Avthe material of the head I8 when the latter is molded. The head IB is of ,insulating material.

3 A threaded bore 24 is provided in the outer end of the shaft 20 for the reception of the threaded end I4 of the shaft I2. One end of the body I6 includes a wall 26 to which I attach a friction disc 28 positioned to engage the shell 3l 40 of the clock. The wall 26 and the disc 2l are provided with aligned openings for looselyl receiving the shaft 2li. 'Ihe disc 22 may comprise rubber cemented to the wail 2l.

Within the body I6 I position a contact disc 32 having a iiange 34 loosely positioned upon the reduced end 36 of the switch head I3. The disc 32 includes an opening 38 for loosely receiving the shaft l20 and may be rotated relatively to the body I6 and the switch head Il through the me- 50 dium of a lever 4II projecting through a slot 42 in the body I6. In Fig. 3, the lever 40 has threaded connection with a bore 44 in the disc 32.

In Figs.A 1 and 3, the slot 42 communicates with'three recesses 46, 48, and 50, representing 55 the closed-opened, opened-closed-opened, and

opened-closed switch adjustments, respectively. Adjustment of the lever 40 to one of the recesses 44, 48, or 50.` determines the operation of the switch at the time for which the alarm is set. 60 In the drawing, I illustrate a 'switch applicable the line l-I lo view along the line 4-4 view along the line 5-5 along the line 3 5 (CL C-35) to an alarm shaft I2 rotating in a clockwise direction when the alarm is released. For clocks having alarm shafts rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the threads of the bore 24 are reversed as well as the arrangement of the recesses 46 and SII, but the remaining switch structure remains the same. I

, Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the switch head Il is provided with a groove 52 communicating with a large groove 54 terminating in a smaller groove 56. I provide the inner wail of the body I6 with a lug 5l normally operating within the groove 54. Groove 52 is for the accommodation of the lug 58 when the switch head Il is connected with the body I6. Rotation of the shaft I2, when the alarm is released imparts rotary motion to the switch head Il relatively to the body IB which is restrained from rotary motion because of the friction disc 2l. Rotation of the switch head I0 is limited because of the lug Il operating within the groove I4.

I provide the switch head I8 with an axial bore 44 for the reception of conducting wires 62. This bore communicates with a transverse bore 54 arranged to permit access to the ends 6i of the wires 42 for establishing conducting relation between the ends 06 and terminal pins 68. These pins are threaded and adiustably positioned within threaded openings 10 in the switch head Il. In Fig. 7, the pins 6l are slotted at 12 for the reception of a screw driver, whereby the pins may be turned down to press against the ends B6.

Two bores 14 are provided in the disc 32 for the reception of contact elements 16 arranged to engage the pins 68 (see Fig. 5). A conducting strip Il is positionedwithin a recess 80 in the disc 32 for electrically connecting -the elements 1B. The circuit is closed whenever the elements 16 engage the pins 68 such as is illustrated in Fig. 5. To hold the elements 15 in firm engagement with the pins 88, I position a compression spring I2 within the body I6. One end of the spring bears against the wall 26 and the opposite end bears against a disc 84 positioned adjacent the disc 32. Both discs are of insulating material.

In Fig. 5, I illustrate the wires 62 as being electrically` connected with a radio 36 and an outlet plug 08 through the medium of wires 90, 92, and 94. While I illustrate my switch in connection with a radio, it will be understood that the switch is applicable to other devices in cases where it is desired to control an electric circuit through the medium of a time controlled unit.

All the parts within the body IB are shiftable longitudinally thereof. In connecting the switch with the shaft I2, the switch head I8 may be pushed inwardly against the tension of the spring 82 and rotated for positioning the lug 53 within the groove 56, at which time the outer end of the shaft 20 projects considerably beyond the disc 28. In this position, the shaft 20 may easily be connected with the shaft i2 by rotating the switch head 5B in the proper direction. While in this position, the switch head may be manually controlled for opening and closing the circuit if desired.

After connection with the clock it, the switch head i8 is rotated for moving the lug d@ out of the groove 56, at which time the switch head may be rotated within the limits dened by the lug 58 and the groove 5t (see Fig. 2). Rotation of the switch head i8 to free the lug 58 from the groove 56 adjusts the switch parts so that the tension of the spring 82 is transmitted to the wall 30 of the clock so that the body i6 is restrained from rotary motion.

Assuming that it is desired to close a circuit at a given time, and that the circuit should remain closed indefinitely, the lever d@ is shifted to the recess 5@ and the switch head it rotated counterclockwise until restrained by the lug 58. When the alarm shaft 2li is released, the switch head I8 is rotated to bring the elements 'ld into electrical contact with the pins 68. Such adjustment closes the circuit.

Shifting of the lever Il@ to the recess t8 positions the elements 'l so that the circuit is open, but the circuit will be closed momentarily upon release of the alarm, while the pins Sd are passing across the elements it. In cases where the circuit is to remain closed until a predetermined time, the lever d0 is adjusted to the recess d6, at which time the circuit will be broken when the alarm is released.

The disc 32 may be moved vaxially of the body i6 by pressing the lever 4B in the direction of the clock. The spring d@ urges the lever n to the selected recess 46, t3, or 50, as soon as the lever is released. In all adjusted positions of my switch, the switch head i8 is rotated counterclockwise in the same manner as when the lever 40 is positioned in the recess 50.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the wires 62 as being connected with a plug 96. This plug includes two prongs 98 and lll@ designed for connection with the conventional wall outlet. Prong H00 extends substantially the full length of the plug body 96 for electrical connection with one prong of a. conventional plug, which prong may be inserted in the opening |02. One of the wires 62 is connected with the prong 98, while the other wire is connected with a contact strip |06 arranged in operative relation with the second opening |06 co-operating with the opening E02 for the reception of the two prongs of the conventional plug.

My invention is designed for connection with conventional clocks. The switch may be quickly and easily connected with the alarm winding shaft by merely removing the winding nut. The spring tension incorporated in the switch structure holds the latter rmly against the clock so as to prevent relative rotary motion of the body I6. All the parts are related in such a manner as to provide an exceedingly compact and simple construction. Adjustmentis a quick and easy operation because of the arrangement of the slots in the body I6 and the lever 40. Because of the simplicity of the construction, the switches may be manufactured at a low cost.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the aoaaeva same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

l. An electric switch comprising a tubular member having an open end and a slot in its wall, the closed end of the tubular member being provided with an opening, a switch head rotatably mounted within the tubular member and having a grip portion projecting beyond said open end, contact members carried by said switch head, bridging means positioned inside the tubular member in operative relation with said contact members and being shiftable relatively to the tubular member and the switch head, the bridging means including an opening, adjusting means connected with said bridging means and projecting through saidslot, and actuating means xedly connected with said switch head and loosely projecting through the openings in said bridging means and the tubular member.

2. An electric switch comprising a tubular member having an open end and a slot in its wall, the closed endof the tubular member being provided with an opening, a switch head rotatably mounted within the tubular member and having a portion projecting beyond said open end, contact members carried by said switch head for connection with a source of current, a disc positioned inside the tubular member and being shiftable relatively to the tubular member and the switch head, said disc having an opening, a con- .tact bridge carried by said disc and arranged in operative relation with said contact members, means connected with said disc and projecting through` said slot for adjusting the disc, and means xedly connected with said switch head and loosely projecting through the openings in said tubular member and the disc for connection with an operating unit.

3. An electric switch comprising a tubular member having one end closed and the other end open, the closed end being provided with an opening, a switch head rotatably positioned within the tubular member and having a portion projecting to the exterior thereof, said switch head being provided with a neck and contact members for connection with a source of current, a disc loosely positioned within the tubular member and having a flange loosely encircling said neck, said disc being provided with an opening and said tubular member having a slot, a lever connected with the disc and projecting through vsaid slot, said disc being provided with bridging means arranged in operative relation with said contact members, and an actuating shaft flxedly connected with the switch head and projecting through the openings in said disc and the tubular member.

4. An electric switch comprising a tubular member having one end closed and the other end open, the closed end being provided with an opening, a switch head rotatably positioned within the tubular member and having a portion projecting to the exterior thereof, said switch head being provided with a neck having contact members for connection with a source of current, a disc loosely positioned within the tubular member and having a flange loosely encircling said neck, said disc being provided with an opening and said tubular member having a slot, a lever connected with the disc and projecting through said slot, to permit adjustment oi the disc, said disc being provided with bridging means arranged in operative relation with said contact members, a shaft fixedly connected with the bridge head and projecting through the openand a rotatable element projecting therethrough.'

of a switch body having a friction surface bearing against said wall, said body being of tubular 15 shape with one end open, a rotatable member.

positioned inside the body and having contact members for connection with a source of current, a bridging member positioned within the body in operative relation with said contact members, 20 and means for iixedly connecting the rotatable member with the rotatable element projecting from said wall for moving the contact members into and out ot conducting relation with said bridging member when the element is rotated. 25 6. The combination with a clock having a wall and a rotatable element projecting therethrough. of a switch body having a friction surface bearing against said wall, said body bem of tubular shape with one end open, a rotatable member 30 positioned inside the body and having contact members for connection with a source of current. a bridging member positioned within the body in operative relation with said contact member,

means for fixedly connecting the rotatable member with the rotatable element projecting from said wall for moving the contact members into and out of conducting relation with said bridging member when the element is rotated, said tubular body being provided with a slot in its wall, and a lever fixedly connected with said bridging memberand projecting through said slot, to permit shifting of the bridging member relatively to the rotatable member for changing the conducting relation between the bridging member and said contact members.

'1. An electric switch comprising a tubular body having a slot deiining abutments representing closed-open, open-closed-open, and open-closed switch adjustments, a switch head rotatably 'mounted in said tubular body and having a pair of contact members for connection with an electric circuit. a bridging device movably related to the switch head and the tubular body and positioned within the same, an adjusting lever fixedly connected with said bridging device and projecting through said slot for selective engagement with said abutments, resilient means cooperating between the tubular body and said bridging device for urging the same against the switch head, and means flxedly connected with said switch head for connection with a time controlled operating member for rotating the switch head, to bring the bridging device into operative relation with said contact elements.

JOHN C. MERRYMAN. 

